Tobacco-steamer



(No Model.)

A,- J. PAIR.

TOBACCO STEAMER.

No. 605,412. Patented J e 7,1898.

Biz-73629663" fiwevaru '6 flndrewJiFadn tlmrnn STATES PATENT @rrrcni ANDREW JACKSON FAIR, OF \VALNUT COVE, NORTH, CAROLINA.

TOBACCO-STEAM ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,412, dated June 7, 1898.

Application filed May 4, 1896.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW JACKSON FAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at WValnut Cove, in the county of Stokes, State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Steamers, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a light portable steamer having suitable provision for conveying the steam into the barn and subjecting the tobacco to its action, which keeps it moist and allows it to dry evenly throughout, so that it all dries yellow.

The device can be set up in any desired positionand the amount of steam therefrom easily regulated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claim. 7

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a substantially central vertical section through my improved apparatus,

showing its manner of use. Fig. 2 is a crosssection on the line 2 20f Fig. 1, looking downward, and Fig. 3 is a'perspective detail 011 a smaller scale.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details-of the drawings by letter, A designates a boiler, preferably of sheet metal, of any desired capacity,

being preferably in the form of a truncated cone, as shown, and having a suitable top a, in which is a central opening closed by valve or other closure B, made steam-tight, yet re- 1novable-th'at is, capable of being taken off in any suitable manner for the introduction of the Water.

0 are fines, of which there may be any de- Serial No. 590,110. (No model.)

' gether with the boiler proper, is supported upon the flange or base F, which is designed to be supported from the ground or any other suitablesupport and extends nearly around the boiler, having an opening f, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, and within the space inclosed by said ring orvflan ge and beneath the bottom of the boiler is designed to be made a fire of wood or any suitable material. V

. The boiler may be provided with suitable handles G,'whereby the same can be easily moved about from place to place, and also by preference provided with a Water-gage H, so that the height of water within the boiler can be readily discerned, it being essential to keep the water within the boiler above the fines, so as to prevent burning of the latter. The top of the boiler is provided with a nipple I, havinga suitable cook or valve J, and to the upper end thereof is designed to be attached a pipe or hose K, which should by preference be of a flexible nature, so that it can be extended to any desired point.

In practice the Water is placed within the boiler and the fire started beneath the same, the hose being disposed so as to conduct the steam to the desired point, in this instance being shown as extended through an opening Zinto the barn or building L, within which the tobacco is designed to be suspended or arranged in any suit-able or convenient man ner. The products of combustion are indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1 passing along the bottom of the chamber up through the chamber E, and thence thrpugh the inclined flues O, which, as will beseen, pass through thewater within the boiler, and thence out through the stack D into the open air. The steam from the boiler. is conveyed through the hose or other connection K into the building, which should be steam-tight, and the mois ture permeates the tobacco and causes the more rank or gummy or green leaves to become more like those that are'more matured, so that when cured it will be all of a like shade of yellow instead of part green and part yel low. The amount of steam conveyed to the building may be regulated by the cook or valve J. The valve or closure B is of such a nature as to be opened under abnormal pres sure of steam, so as to avoid injury to the apparatus. I have found that the steam. acts peculiarly upon tobacco and brings about a chemical action therein, which adds materially to the marketable value of the tobacco and retains therein and enhances the flavor.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A tobacco-steamer comprising a vertical water-chamber, a depending casing to support the water-chamber and form a fire-box be- 

